Snakeskin-Inspired Hierarchical Winkled Surface for Ultradurable Superamphiphobic Fabrics via Short-Fluorinated Polymer Reactive Infusion

Abstract

Durable superamphiphobic surfaces are highly desired for real-world applications such as self-cleaning, anti-fouling, personal protection, and functional sportswear. However, challenges still exist in constructing robust superamphiphobic surfaces by using short-fluorinated polymers as one of the promising alternatives for environmentally unfriendly long perfluorinated side-chain polymers. Hierarchical patterns on biological skins endow the creatures with a specific surface for survival. Here, a facile strategy was proposed to generate hierarchical wrinkles for ultradurable superamphiphobic fabrics by simulating the deformation adaptability of snakeskin. Snake-like hierarchical winkling was constructed by the infusion of reactive perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (FOS) in a wet chemical plus vapor polymerization process. Upon the infusion of FOS, the mismatch of shrinkage caused by gradient crosslinking leads to the formation of a soft wrinkled poly (perfluorooctyl triethoxysilane) (poly-FOS) surface. Such a snakeskin-like hierarchical wrinkled surface and high fluorine density of poly-FOS endowed the treated superamphiphobic fabrics with high water resistance (contact angle 169°), castor oil resistance (154°), and extraordinary durability (withstanding 100 standard laundries, 15,000 rubbing cycles and strong acid and alkali solutions). Moreover, a superamphiphobic surface can be formed on various substrates, including fabric, wood, paper, and glass. This work thus gives new insights into the environmentally friendly manufacture of ultradurable superamphiphobic fabrics.

Graphical Abstract

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(52103106); Program of Shanghai Academic Leader(21XD1420200); Chang Jiang Scholar Program(Q2019152); Shanghai Shuguang Program(19SG28)